You quote a Pharmacy2U director as saying their electronic prescription service is a “useful option” for the housebound and elderly (‘Group warns against using medication service’, Enfield Independent, December 3). But these are the very people that benefit most from personal contact with their local pharmacist.

It is also of interest that Dr Harrison states “our repeat prescription service”, which suggests that the ‘service’ is only interested in getting hold of no problem prescriptions that are already established, and not ones that demand some work and personal involvement. Your article failed to mention that Pharmacy2U is based in Leeds and so the housebound and elderly would be expected to phone them at their own expense for advice or with any queries. And what happens if they are out when the package of medicines arrives and can’t be delivered? Are the housebound and elderly expected to collect the package from the sorting office?

I can’t see any advantage for the patient in getting medicines sent from Leeds, but I can see Pharmacy2U boosting its profits at the expense of our local pharmacies, who are in constant contact with doctors at all neighbouring surgeries to ensure we get the right medication at the right time.

Many Enfield pharmacies have signed up to the NHS Minor Ailments Scheme, giving the elderly free access to many non-prescription medicines to help take the pressure off GPs. It seems to me that Pharmacy2U undermines this facility, putting more pressure on the NHS.

We’ve just had Small Business Saturday in Enfield so encouraging older people not to go out to their local pharmacy is surely contrary to the message of that campaign.

At my local pharmacy I can get a free blood pressure check anytime, they will collect prescriptions from the GP and deliver them to my home, and they will even get and deliver any mobility equipment prescribed by the NHS. There’s enough shops boarded up in Enfield without Pharmacy2U forcing our local chemists out of business.

Edward Ellis

Chase Road, Oakwood